Rhodes mourns a life cut short

Rhodes University, friends and family of Amanda Tweyi, who was killed in a university residence last week, paid tribute to the 21-year-old student at a memorial service.

Some of her fellow students cried quietly in the beautiful Rhodes University chapel as those who knew her described her as a calm, loving and always ready-to-laugh person who adored her two-year-old son. Tweyi was shot in a men's residence last week in what police believe was a murder-suicide. Her boyfriend 34-year-old Nkosinathi Nqabisa, who was visiting from King William's Town, was found dead in the same room with what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The service was attended by students from Cullen Bowles, the residence in which Tweyi was shot as well as from Tweyi's own residence, Rosa Parks. University heavyweights, including vice-chancellor Saleem Badat and his two deputies, Sizwe Mabizela and Peter Clayton, sat behind Tweyi's family. Tweyi's little son, oblivious of the solemnity of the occasion, delighted all by chatting merrily to his grandfather.

Tweyi's sister, Talina, 18, described Amanda as a friendly person who loved to love. "She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandmother and her son." Kimberley Hall warden Dr James Gambiza described the incident as heart wrenching and urged Tweyi's friends to be there for the family. Speaking on behalf of Rosa Parks residence, Sandra Motatu said the residence had lost a sister and a friend. "She is gone before her time."

The women from her residence stood in honour of their friend while Motatu spoke. There was also a strong undercurrent of activism that ran through the ceremony. Some students arrived wearing purple T-shirts condemning gender violence. Rhodes SRC president Brad Bense said her life had been too short and was a reminder to make a concerted effort to deflect gender and domestic violence.

Caption: MOURNED: The memorial service for Amanda Tweyi, the Rhodes student who was gunned down in her boyfriend's residence, was held in the Rhodes St Mary's Chapel on Thursday Picture: SUPPLIED